Machine for treeing boots or shoes.



4 (Application led Jan. 11.,.1900.) (No Model.) 4vSheeiS-Sheal I.

no. 69|,5761 Patented 1an. 2L4 |902.

1 H. A. BALLARD,

MACH-INE FOR TBEEING BOOTS UB SHES. (Applieaeipnmed .m1, 11', 1900.)

(No Model.)

THE NORRIS PETERS C0.. PHOTO-LINO.. wAsHzNe'loN, D. c.

v NTTED STATES" PATENT OFFICE.

HARRIE A. BALLARD, or ASHLAND,

MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

MACHINE FOR lTREEING BOOTS OR SHOES.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 691,576, dated J1 anuary 21, 1902.

Application tiled January 11, 1900l Serial No. 1,041. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRIE A. BALLARD, of Ashland, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improved MachineA for Treeing Boots or Shoes,

of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, in which- Figure lis a front elevation of a portion of lo my improved machine. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of that portion of my improved machine shown in "Fig, l. Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of that portion of my improved machine shownin Fig. l. Fig. 4 is a section on line l5 4 4 of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a side elevation opposite to that shown in Fig. 2, showing also the turret with one tree in place. Figs. 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11 are details relating tothe turret, fully described below.

zo My improved machine is in many respects'y number of strokes together as one, when oney of them, carrier A, comes to a stop, and they l other, carrier A, moves away from carrier A 3o and stops. ThisA construction and operation and the mechanism shown by which the operator may start the machine on its cycle of a predetermined 'number of strokes of the carriers A and A together as one, which mechanism operates automatically to stop the machine on the completion of that cycle, but remains under control of the operator, is also too' well known to require detailed description.

In the preferred form of my invention the 4o lower carrier A is reciprocated by a lever 3, whose fulcrum 4 is between two springs 5 5, which act against the thrust of a pitman-rod G,l which is reciprocated by an eccentric 7 that is, the eccentric and pitman vibrate leverlS; but one stroke of the lever is against the force of springs 5. The other stroke is caused partly by the springs and partly by eccentric 7. One end of lever 3 is connected to carrier A' by means of a link 8. A sleeve 9 on carrier A is held in alinement with a 5o sleeve 10 on carrier A, and when carrier A ,makes its initial stroke and moves toward carrier A sleeve 9 engages sleeve 10 and lifts carrier A slightly, causing locking-pawl 1l to free itself from carrier A-that is, when carrier A is raised slightly it is lifted out of engagement with pawl 1l, on which it was supported, and pawl 11 falls back out of the path of carrier A, and after carrier Ais thus freed both carriers reciprocate together as one un- 6o .the pawl drops into the path of carrier A, 7o

which in descending is stopped by pawl 11, which prevents further-.movement of carrier A with carrier A', and the latter then 'completesits last stroke and the machine is automatically stopped. Pawl-holder 12 is actu- 75 'ated by a lever 13l and connecting-rod 14, lelver-13 being controlled by time-Wheel B.

On carrier A is a tool-block 17, movable in and out step by step while the machine is traversing its cycle. Step-by-step movement is 8o imparted to block. 17 by lever 18, pivoted at 19 to carrier A and at 2O to block 25, connected with block 17, and apin 2,1, projecting from lever 18, enters and is acted on by a cam-slot in the face of a ratchet-wheel 22, mounted to turn on carrier A. As carrier A is reciprocated ratchet-wheel 22 is moved up and down in front of and is engaged by a yielding pawl 23, mounted in the frame ofthe machine, and each time ratchet wheel 22 9o passes pawl 23 during each downward movement ratchet-'wheel 22 is partially. rotated, pawl 23 yielding as ratchet 22 is carried past it during each upward movement with carrier A'. Ratchet-wheel 22 is held from back mo- 95 tion by the pawl shown in Fig.'5 as carried by link 8. By this means thetools carried by block 17 are shifted on carrier A with re relation to shoe S for the purpose of causing them to properly act on the shoe. Block 17 is locked to carrier A by means which are automatically operated to free the block just before ratchet-wheel 22 reaches pawl 23 and during the downward movement of carrier A', so that block 17 is free to be moved astep on carrier A by lever 18 when ratchet-wheel 22 is turned by pawl 23 to operate that lever. The means referred to consist of a rock-shaft 24, journaled in block 25 on carrier A, adjustably connected with block 17 by screws 26, and screws 26 are each formed with right and left threads at their ends, and one end of each screw engages a threaded socket in block 25 and the other end a threaded socket in block 17. On rock-shaft 24 is an eccentric 27, arranged in a socket in block 25 and adapted to engage the top surface of carrier A. Fast to rock-shaft 24 is a weighted arm 28, which when unsupported acts to' hold eccentric 27 in engagement with the top surface of carrier A', thereby locking block 17 to the carrier. During the movement of carrier A' away from shoe S before ratchet 22 reaches pawl 23 weighted arm 28 engages a projection 29, fast to the frame of the machine, with the result that shaft 24 is turned and eccentric 27 moved out of engagement with carrier A and block 17 freed from said carrier, so that it may be shifted on carrier A' by lever 18 when ratchetwheel 22 engages paw123. Movement of carrier A toward shoe S lifts weighted arm 28 clear of projection 29 and allows that arm to turn shaft 24 in the opposite direction and move eccentric 27 into engagement with cai rier A to lock block 17 to said carrier.

On carrier A are the tools 30 for operating upon the back of the shoe, and each is a flexible strap, preferably leather, supported at two points to leave a yielding flexible intermediate portion extending transversely with relation to the shoe, which is the effective portion of the strap and which when in engagement with the shoe tits itself to the shape of the back of the shoe, and when in operation the straps are moved bodily and caused to rub over the surface of the shoe. These tools 30 constitute an important feature of my invention, and though a group of straps 30 are herein shown it is obvious that one or more may be used. Each tool 30 is fastened at one end to anotched bar 3l, fast to standards 32, extending up from a supplementary slide 33, mounted to slide on Ways on block 17, and each tool 30 extends transversely across bar 3l over a pulley 34, loose on a rod 35, fast at its ends in standards 36, extending up from slide 33. The other end of each tool 30 is engaged by a spring 37, mounted on rod 38, fast at its ends to standards 32, which serve to keep the effective portion of each tool taut and to hold it against t-he shoe with the proper force. When carrier A has moved far enough to bring the tools 30 into engagement with the back of the shoe S, the tools are moved bodily with relation to the shoe along the back thereof and caused to wipe or rub over the back by the slide 33 on block 17, said slide being actuated by lever 39, pivoted at 40 to a bracket fast to the frame of the machine, and 1ever.39 is formed with a lengthwise slot 41, into which projects a pin 42 from one end of a bar 43, and the opposite end of bar 43 is pivotally connected to one end of a link 44, which is pivotally connected at its opposite end to slide During the upward movement of carrier A before lever 39 is operated slot 41 occupies a vertical position, so that pin 42 on bar 43 moves freely through and lengthwise of slot 41 without being acted on by that slot, and slide 33 does not move on block 17 during that time; but when during the upward movement of lever 3 carrier A has been moved far enough to bring the tools 30 into engagement with shoe S then lever 3 engages a roll 48 on slotted lever 39 and moves that lever on its pivot 40, and slide 33, carrying tools 30, is moved outwardly on block 17 while tools 30 are in engagement with shoe S. After lever 39 has been canted by lever 3 to move slide 33 on block 17 slot 41 in lever 39 occupies an inclined position, and when carrier A moves back with lever 3 pin 42 is acted on by inclined slot 41 and slide 33 is drawn back on block 17. The extent of back movement of slide 33 is limited by a pin 46, fast in carrier A', which engages the end of a slot 47 in bar 43, and. that limit is reached when pin 42 reaches a point in slot 4l about opposite pivot 40, so that further downward movement of pin 42 in slot 41 causes pin 42 to act on the side of slot 41 and return lever 39 to its vertical position.

It is usual to include in the group of tools on carrier A" two tools, located upon opposite sides of carrier A', which carry rolls 49 at their upper ends, and rolls 49 are acted upon by guides 50, which heretofore have been fixed to the frame of the machine, with no provision for adjustment for shoes of diierent sizes, the purpose of the guides being to guide each tool in a path corresponding to the shape of the sole of the shoe as viewed from the edge, so that the tools will be guided along the upper near its junction with the sole, and in my present invention one important feature resides in mounting the toolguide 50 on its support, so that it is movable thereon and may be adjusted for different sizes of shoes.

In the preferred form of my invention the two movable guides 50 are each pivoted at 5l to a bracket adjustable on the frame of the machine and at 52 to a bracket 53, adjustably secured to slides mounted in ways on the frame of the machine. The slides `of this bracket 53 are engaged on one side of the machine, Fig. 2, by one arm of a bell-crank le- IOS ward movement.

'ver 54, fast on rock-shaft 55, and on the opposite side of the machine, Fig. 5, by arm 56 of rock-shaft 55. The upper arm of bellcrank 54 is weighted and is arranged above an arm 57, fast on plunger 5S, which is mounted in an inclined position on bracket 59, fast to the frame of the machine. The bracket 53 has two side pieces and a bowed cross-piece, and the side pieces .are adjustable on the slides by which the bracket is connected to the frame of the machine. The lower end of plunger 58 carries a curved arm 60, under which the shoe is passed as it is swung, with its tree, into position between carriers A A', and as the shoe S passes under arm 60 the toe of the shoe engages and lifts that arm and plunger 58, and arm 57 engages and lifts bellcrank `54 and through rock-shaft 55 and slide 53 moves the guides 50 to'an extent in proportion to the length of the shoe, which length varies in different sizes of shoes, so that when the guides 50 are moved into operative position by the shoe they will be placed in the proper position for that size of shoe. By this construction the guides are automatically adjusted by the shoe as the latteris being placed in position between carriers A A.

The slides of bracket 53 carry racks 6l, which are engaged by pawls 62, fast on rockshaft 63, mounted in the' frame of the machine, and to one of pawls 62 is pivotally connectcd a link 64, the lower end of which is connected by a pin-and-slot connection at 65 with lever 13. When time-wheel B operates lever 13 at the completion of the predetermined number of strokes of carriers A A', that lever moves link 64 upwardly and lifts the pawls 62 out of engagement with racks 6l, and Weight then operates bell-crank 54 to move the slides of bracket 53 and return guides 50 to their retracted and inoperative positions.

On carrier A is mounted tool-holder 66, which is swiveled in its support 67, adjustable in that carrier. Hcretofore tool-holder 66 has been partially rotated step by step, rst in one direction and then in the opposite direction, while carriers A A were being reciprocated, which partial rotary step movements of that holder have heretofore always occurred when carrier A had reached the extent of its movement toward the shoe and while the tools carried thereby were in engagement with the shoe; but in my present invention the tool-holder 66 is shifted on carrier A when it has moved far enough to carry the tools on the holder 66 clear of the shoe and the carrier A is near the limit of its out- This feature of shifting the holder 66 on carrier A when the tools carried thereby are out of engagement with the shoe, together with that of shifting tool-block 17 on carrier A when the tools carried by it are out of engagement with the shoe, are both parts of my present invention.

A. Slide 72 is provided with a pin 73, (see Fig. 4,) which is fast to another pin 74,mount ed in a socket in tool-holder 66. Projecting from lever` G9 is a stud which is engaged by a cam-groove in a ratchet-wheel 76, mounted to turn on carrier A. A s carrier A reciprocates while the machine is in operation, ratchet-wheel '7 6 is carried with carrier A in front of a spring-pressed pawl 77, mounted in an arm 78, fast to the frame of the machine, and as ratchet-wheel 76 passes pawl 77 on its upstroke pawl 77 yields, and as ratchet-wheel 76 passes it on the downstroke pawl 77 operates to move ratchet-wheel 76 one tooth, reverse motion of ratchet-wheel 76 being prevented by pawl 79. The slide 72 is thus moved slightly in its ways by the action of the cam-groove in ratchet-wheel 76 on the stud of lever 69, pin 73 moving with slide 712, and pin 74, being fast to pin 73, is also moved slightly, causing holder 66 to turn slightly on its axis. This axial movement of holder 66 slightly alters the relation of pin 73 and holder 66; but that is provided for by the axial movement of pin 74 in its socket and by the width of the opening into that socket through which pin 73 passes to engage pin 74. The machine "shown in the drawings is designed to recipro- IOO cate the carriers twelve times, and during the twelve reciprocations of carrier A ratchetwheel 7 6 is caused to make one complete revolution and through lever 69, slide 72,and pins 73 and 74 partially rotate tool-.holder 66 on its axis six steps in one direction and six steps in the opposite direction, each partial rotary movement occurring while the tools on carrier A are out of engagement with the work andwhile the carrier A is at or near the limit of its movement away from the shoe.

VOn tool-holder 66 is fast a bracket 80, to which is pivotally connected at 8l one end of a supplementary tool-holder 82, which rests at its otherend against sleeve l0, on which it turns when tool-holder 66 is turned on its axis. On holder 82 are pivoted arms 83, carrying tools 84, adapted to operate upon opposite sides of the upper` of the shoe next to the sole, and tools'84 are each formed with a hole 85, through which passes a iiexible strap 86, fast at its ends to the upper ends of tools 84, and that portion of strap 86 between tools 84 is the effective portion, and when brought into engagement with the shoe strikes upon the tip of the toe part of the upper, over which it passes onto the top of the toe, fitting itself to the shape of that part of the shoe as it passes over it. By the use of a flexible strap it is possible to operate upon the very top or tip IOS of the toe portion of the shoe, which would not be possible with the tools heretofore used intreeing-machines. The pivotal connection z 81 between tool-holder 66 and supplementary tool-holder 82 is arranged eccentrically with relation to the axis of holder 66, so that as holder 66 is turned step by step on its axis the p eti'ective portion ot' the strap S6 will be shifted properly with relation to the shoe being operated upon, but to a less extent than toolholder 66.

In the preferred form of my invention the frame of the machine is made in two parts, and on the upper part D is mounted carrier A, and on the lower part D' is mounted carrier A'. The upper part D of the trame of the machine is mounted in ways S7, provided on the lower portion D', and a screw SS, mounted to turn in a socket on the lower part, engages a threaded hole in a lug S9 on the upper part D. The screw S8 is provided with a crank, 90, by which it can be turned by hand. By i this construction the upper part of the frame ,i can be moved on the lower part to adj ust the two carriers relatively. The lower part D y ot' the frame of the machine on which carrier A is mounted rests on a base D2, on whichis also mounted a standard 91, which supports a table 92. On the upper end of standard 91 is mounted a turret 93, formed with sockets i 94, in which are secured the ends of the trees y 95. Trees 95 receive upon them each a shoe y S, and the turret 93 is turned by hand on its l axis to swing trees 95 successively into posi. tion between carriers A A. ln the operation of the turret the shoes are applied to the trees 'from one side of the machine and removed from the trees from the other side ot the may chine after the turret has been turned to l swing the shoe into position to be operated i upon by the tools on carriers A A'.

On table 92 is a rest 96, which carries latch i 97 and bolt 98, which lock each socket in its l place on rest 96. (See Figs. 7 and 9.) 1n order to unlock, the turret-bolt 98 is moved l against its spring 99 by means of a hand- .i lever 100, fulcrumed on latch 97, which is pressed by its spring 101 against stop-pin 102. i This motion of bolt 98 frees socket 94 and the turret is then swung to carry one tree and its socket away from rest 96 and bring another tree and its socket onto rest 96; but as asocket 94 moves into position on rest 96 the top of latch 97 is engaged by the socket and depressed against its spring 101, which tilts a rocker 103 and through spring 99 raises bolt 98, and after socket 94 has passed latch 97 a projection 104, which is provided on each socket, engages bolt 9S and slightly depresses it against its spring 99 and raises latch 97 into a position behind socket 94, so that until lever 100 is operated socket 94 is locked in position between latch 97 and bolt 98.

The trees 95 are of usual construction and l are operated by means of a rod 105, which is i part of the tree. Rod 105 is engaged by one arm of a lever 106, pivoted at 107 to the turret, and lever 106 is employed to move rod 105 endwise to operate the tree. rThe other end of lever 106 is formed with a head 108, in which is a socket 109, one wall of which is inclined with relation to the side of an arm 110, fast to and depending from turret 93, which arm extends through socket 109. On that end of lever 106 is also pivoted a lever 111,Which is forked at one end, and that end is slotted, as at 112, to engage the ends of a t'i'iction-roll113, mounted in socket 109, next to arm 110. The ends of roll 113 are reduced in diameter and extend out of socket 109 and through slots 112 in the forked end of lever 111, so that roll 113 can be raised and lowered in socket 109 by means of lever 111, and roll 1153 will also be held in socket 109 by lever 111. l/Vhen unrestrained, lever 111 tends to assume one definite position and to hold roll 113 in the upper or narrow part of socket 109, thereby locking lever 106 to arm 110, and when the outer end of lever 111 is raised roll 113 is moved downwardly in socket 109 to the wider part thereof, thereby disconnecting lever 106 and arm 110 to permit that end of lever 106 to be lowered to move rod 105 of the tree in a direction to release shoe S.

0n base D2 is pivotally mounted a foot-lever 114, which is connectedwith a plunger 115, extending up through table 92 and which has its upper end mounted in a socket in a bracket 116, fast to standard 91. By operatingr lever 114 plunger 115 is raised, and its upper end engages the arm of lever 106 and operates that lever to move rod 105 in a direction to stretch the shoe on tree 95. Vhen plunger 115 is lowered and the lever 106 starts to return with the plunger, roll 113 l moves upwardly in its socket and locks that arm of lever 106 to arm 110. When the shoe is to be removed from the tree,a plunger ,117,also mounted in a socket in bracket 116, is raised by means of a foot-lever 116, and its upper end engages the tail of lever 111 and moves roll 113 downwardly in its socket to disconnect arm 110 and the arm of lever 106. 1f plunger 117 be then gradually lowered, the arm of lever 106, carrying lever 111 and roll 113, will move downwardly with the plunger 117.

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fVhen a tree, with a shoe on it, is swung into position between carriers A A to be operated upon, the heel of the shoe engages a rotatable rest 119, which assists in supporting that end of the tree while the shoe is being operated upon, and rest 119 may be a Wheel or, as shown in the drawings, a ring mounted to turn freely on a movable holder 120,supported by the frame of the machine, and rest 119 is held against the heel of the shoe by spring 121, which rests at one end against a bracket 122, t'ast on the frame of the machine, and at the opposite end against a pin in a rod 123, projecting from holder 120. As the shoe is swung into position and the heel thereof engages ring 119 the latter turns freely with the shoe and holder 120 is forced back against spring 121, which holds the rest against the heel of the shoe with considerable force, so as to materially assist in preventing the shoe and tree from moving verticallyr while the tools on the carriers are operating upon it.

What I claim as my invention is- 1. In a machine for treeing boots and shoes the combination of a tool-carrier; a lever for reciprocating it; and a spring arranged to oppose the movement of the lever in one direction and to assist its movement in the opposite direction.

2. In a machine for treeing boots and shoes the combination of a carrier; means for reciprocating it; a movable tool-block on said carrier; and'means for automatically shifting the tool-block on the carrier when the carrier is near the limit of its movement away from the shoe.

3. In a machine for treeing boots and shoes the combination of a carrier; means for reciprocating it; a movable tool-block on said carrier; a ratchet and its connections for automatically shifting the tool-block on the carrier; and a pawl which that ratchet engages when the carrier nears the outer end of its stroke.

4- In a machine for treeing boots and shoes the combination of a carrier; means for reciprocating it; a movable tool-block on the carrier; means for automatically shifting the tool-block on the calrier; means normally locking the toolsblock to the carrier; and means operated automatically to free the tool-block when the latter is to be shifted on the carrier.

5. In a machine for treeing boots and shoes the combination of a carrier; means for reciprocating it; a slide movable on the carrier; a tool mounted on the slide adapted to tit itself to the shape of the back of the shoe; and means for moving the slide and tool carried thereby lengthwise of the back of the shoe while the tool is in engagement with, and to cause the tool to operate upon, the back of the shoe.

6. In a machine for treeing boots and shoes the combination of a carrier; means for reciprocating it; tools on said carrier for operating upon the sides of a shoe; a slide mount- .ed on said carrier; a tool on said slide for operating upon the back of a shoe; and means for reciprocating the slide on the carrier lengthwise of the back of the shoe to cause the tool to operate upon and lengthwise of the back of the shoe.

7. In a machine for treeing boots and shoes the combination of a carrier; a slide movable on the carrier; a ilexiblestrap mounted on the slide adapted to fit itself to the shape of the back of the shoe; and means for moving the slide and the strap lengthwise of the back of a shoe while the strap is in engagement 5 therewith.

8. In aboot-treeing mach ine in combination two guides for the tools, each pivoted near one end to the frame of the machine, and near the other end toa bracket on slides and ways on the frame of the machine, and means for movon an axis on the carrier; means for automatically moving said holder step by step on its axis rst in one direction and then in the opposite direction while the machine is in operation; a supplementary tool-holder pivotally connected to the first-mentioned tool-holder at apoint located at one side of the axis of the firstmentioned tool-holder, and pivotally connected with the carrier at a point upon the opposite side of the axis of the first-mentioned tool-holder; and a flexible strap on the supplementary tool-holder forA operating upon the end and top of the toe of a shoe.

11. In a machine fortreeing boots and shoes the combination of a frame; a carrier mounted on the frame; means for reciprocating the carrier; atool-holder mounted to turn on an axis on the carrier; operating means for the tool-holder mounted on the carrier; and means on the frame for actuating the tool-holder-operating means whereby the tool-holder is automatically moved on its axis step by step, first in one direction and then in the opposite direction, while the machine is in operation.

12. In amachine fortreeing boots and shoes the combination of a revolving turret forholding the trees; its support; latch 9,7 and bolt 98 on said support; their springs 99 and 101; a lever 103 supporting those springs; and a lever connected with the latch and bolt, arranged to operate substantially as described.

13. The combination of a turret provided with tree-holding sockets; a lever pivotally mounted on the turret with one end arranged to engage the expanding rod of a tree, and provided with a socket in its other end; an arm fast on the turret extending through the socket; a roll in the socket for locking the lever to the arm; and means for moving the roll in the socket to free the lever,

14. The combination of a turret provided with tree-holding sockets; a'lever pivotally mounted on the turret with one end arranged to engage the expanding rod of a tree, and provided with a socket in its other end; an

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arm fast on the turret extending through the socket; a roll in the socket for looking the lever to the arm; means for normally holding the roll in position to engage the lever and arm to rigidly connect said parts; and means for moving the roll in the socket to free the lever.

15. In a machine for treeing boots and shoes ythe combination of an annular heel-rest and a hollow support on which the annular rest is mounted to turn. 

